Indus Valley Civilization Sculpture

Introduction:- The arts of the Indus Valley Civilization began emerging in the latter half of the third millennium BCE. Various artifacts found across the civilization’s sites include sculptures, seals, pottery, jewelry, terracotta figures, and more. The artists of that era displayed remarkable artistic sensibilities and a vivid imagination. Their portrayal of human and animal figures was remarkably realistic, featuring unique anatomical details. In terracotta art specifically, the meticulous modeling of animal figures stands out.

Harappa and Mohenjodaro, situated along the Indus River, represent major sites of the civilization and showcase some of the earliest instances of urban planning. These cities feature houses, markets, storage facilities, offices, and public baths arranged in a grid-like pattern.

Additionally, they had a sophisticated drainage system in place. While Harappa and Mohenjodaro are located in Pakistan, important excavation sites in India include Lothal and Dholavira in Gujarat, Rakhigarhi in Haryana, Ropar in Punjab, Kalibangan in Rajasthan, among others.

The statues discovered at Harappan sites, whether crafted in stone, bronze, or terracotta, are not numerous but display remarkable refinement. Among the stone statuaries unearthed at Harappa and Mohenjodaro, two stand out as excellent examples showcasing three-dimensional forms.

Stone Statues

The stone figures consist of a red sandstone torso and a soapstone bust depicting a bearded man. The bearded man, commonly seen as a priest, wears a shawl that drapes under the right arm and covers the left shoulder. This shawl is adorned with trefoil patterns. The eyes are slightly elongated, seemingly half-closed, conveying a sense of meditative focus.

The nose is well-defined and of moderate size, while the mouth is average-sized with a neatly trimmed mustache, short beard, and whiskers. The ears resemble double shells with a perforation in the center.

The hair is parted in the middle, and a simple woven band is worn around the head. An armlet adorns the right hand, while holes around the neck suggest the presence of a necklace.

Bronze Casting

Harappans extensively practiced the art of bronze-casting, employing the ‘lost wax’ technique. The process involved covering wax figures with clay, allowing it to dry, then heating the clay-covered wax to drain out the molten wax through a small hole. This technique created a hollow mold, subsequently filled with molten metal that took the shape of the original object. Once the metal cooled, the clay cover was removed entirely, revealing the cast metal object. Bronze sculptures featured both human and animal figures, such as the renowned ‘Dancing Girl,’ representing exceptional craftsmanship.

Notable animal figures included a buffalo with raised head, back, and impressive horns, and a goat, both displaying artistic excellence.

Bronze casting was prevalent across major centers of the Indus Valley Civilization.

Significant bronze artifacts from different sites, including a copper dog and bird from Lothal, and a bronze bull from Kalibangan, showcased similar artistic merit as the human figures from Harappa and Mohenjodaro.

The tradition of metal-casting continued in late Harappan and Chalcolithic sites like Daimabad in Maharashtra, revealing a continuation of figure sculpture with examples of human and animal figures.

Terracotta

Terracotta images in the Indus Valley portrayed less refinement compared to stone and bronze statues, especially in representing human forms.
Terracotta human figures showed more realism in Gujarat sites and Kalibangan within the Indus Valley.
Notably, the representations of the mother goddess is among the significant discovery of figures in terracotta.
Terracotta figurines depicted bearded males with coiled hair, often standing rigidly upright with slightly apart legs and arms parallel to the body, suggesting a potential deity as they appeared repeatedly in the same pose.
Additionally, a terracotta mask portraying a horned deity is another discovery.
Various items like toy carts with wheels, whistles, rattles, birds, animals, gamesmen, and discs were also crafted in terracotta.

Seals

Archaeologists have unearthed thousands of seals, primarily crafted from steatite and occasionally from materials like agate, chert, copper, faience, and terracotta. These seals feature intricate animal figures such as unicorn bulls, rhinoceroses, tigers, elephants, bison, goats, buffaloes, among others, displaying realistic portrayals in various moods. The primary purpose behind creating these seals was for commercial use, likely serving as markers of ownership or merchandise identification.

Additionally, the seals appeared to function as amulets, possibly carried by their owners, similar to modern identity cards. Standard Harappan seals were square plaques measuring 2×2 square inches, predominantly made from steatite, and engraved with a yet undeciphered pictographic script. Craftsmen crafted some seals from ivory, displaying a wide array of motifs. These prominently featured animals like bulls, elephants, tigers, goats, along with trees, and human figures.

A significant seal, often referred to as the Pashupati Seal by some scholars, portrays a human figure seated cross-legged, accompanied by animals such as an elephant, tiger, rhinoceros, buffalo, and two antelopes.

Discovered in considerable numbers at ancient sites like Mohenjodaro in the Indus Valley, these seals date between 2500 and 1900 BCE. They feature figures and animals carved in intaglio on their surfaces.

Archaeologists have found copper tablets in square or rectangular shapes. These tablets feature animal or human figures on one side and inscriptions on either side.

These tablets, possibly amulets, showcase meticulously carved figures and signs, often associated with the animals depicted on them, unlike the variable inscriptions found on seals.

Pottery

The pottery excavated from these sites provides insight into the evolving design motifs, shapes, and styles during different periods.
Indus Valley pottery mainly comprises wheel-made wares, with very few being hand-made, where plain pottery is more prevalent than painted ware.
Artisans commonly fashion plain pottery from red clay, occasionally adorning it with a fine red or grey slip. This pottery features knobbed ware embellished with rows of knobs.
Black painted ware showcases a red slip base adorned with geometric and animal designs in glossy black paint.
Polychrome pottery, a rarity, includes small vases decorated with geometric patterns in red, black, green, white, and yellow.
Incised ware, also infrequent, depicts incised decoration limited to the bases of pans, always on the inside, and the dishes of offering stands.
Perforated pottery, characterized by a large hole at the bottom and small holes on the wall, possibly served for straining beverages.
Pottery for household use exists in diverse shapes and sizes, offering practicality for daily use, primarily favoring graceful curves over straight and angular shapes.
Remarkably, miniature vessels, often less than half an inch tall, display exceptional craftsmanship, eliciting admiration for their detailed design and artistry.

Beads and Ornaments

In the Indus Valley Civilization, people wore meticulously crafted ornaments made from materials like precious metals, gemstones, and clay. These ornaments—necklaces, armlets, finger-rings, and more—were found in hoards at Mohenjodaro and Lothal, emphasizing their importance and skilled craftsmanship. The bead industry, evident from factories at Chanhudaro and Lothal, produced diverse beads with intricate designs using various materials. Additionally, naturalistic animal models, used as pin-heads and beads, displayed their artistry. The discovery of spindles and whorls suggested common spinning practices, while the fashion, hairstyles, cosmetics, and attire of the Indus Valley people emerged from archaeological findings. Their construction practices, depicted through stone structural remains at Dholavira, highlighted their adeptness in architectural craftsmanship.

Summary

The Indus Valley Civilization showcased a rich culture through various aspects of daily life. Their ornate jewelry, thriving bead industry, and diverse fashion highlighted their craftsmanship. Archaeological finds shed light on the significance of ornaments and bead production techniques. They reveal various facets of ancient Indus Valley life and fashion. Their skilled metalwork, stone carving, pottery, and terracotta creations also depicted their expertise and cultural richness.